MOTU Ultralite Mk 4 or RME UCX

MOTU Ultralite Mk 4 or RME UCX

Thinking of finally upgrading my MOTU Ultralite Firewire interface, which has been great over the years, with a newer, USB-capable interface. I am wondering if I should get the Ultralite Mk4 or step up (in price, at least) to the RME UCX, which I know has been around a long time, but has always had a great reputation, too. Can anyone give me some information that might help me clarify if it's worth moving to RME, which I have seen for a bit over $1200, or sticking with MOTU and saving about $600 in the process? I will mention this is for my personal studio, which is undergoing some expansion. I'd like this to be more or less the last interface I buy for a long, long while, maybe for good (given my age). I would appreciate any feedback from those out there with some experience with either or both of these interfaces. Thanks.

If the old MOTU worked well for you and you don't have any driver problems, I'd go for the new one. RME is renown for their drivers and latency, but if you don't have a problem in that area .... Soundwise, I can't imagine there is $600 difference.

I am leaning toward upgrading the MOTU with MOTU for the reasons of price differential. However, in my research I did look at the MOTU 1248, their flagship interface--for about the same money as the RME UCX, it gives you a whole lot more connectivity, with 4 mic pres instead of two--right now that is overkill, but as I expand my studio I may well have a need for the extra inputs. It may well be worth the investment, since it's part of an overall studio remodel/upgrade.

I was looking at the Motu as well and certainly extra inputs are well worth having. Reason being even if there's only one of you using the studio, you can leave things all hooked up and ready to roll without unplugging and plugging stuff in.